The Indonesians who are visiting Sri Lanka on a familiarization tour, with Sri Lankan officials.
The Sri Lankan Embassy in Jakarta, in collaboration with SriLankan Airlines, Jetwing Travels, and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTBP) organized the first familiarization tour after the Covid-19 pandemic with a view to promoting Sri Lanka as a preferred tourist destination for Indonesian Buddhists.
The tour group, comprising 11 travellers, has embarked on a journey to explore the cultural and spiritual wonders of Sri Lanka from July 31 July to August 9.
Although the majority of Indonesians are Muslims, the Buddhist population is also quite significant in Indonesia. It accounts for more than two million people and these Buddhists of Chinese origin play an active role in the business world in Indonesia. This initiative aims to deepen the cultural ties between the two nations while showcasing the rich heritage and serene landscapes that Sri Lanka has to offer.
The familiarization tour will take the participants to several iconic destinations, including the Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic, the breathtaking town of Ella, the picturesque coastal city of Negombo, the historic city of Galle, the cultural hub of Kandy, enchanting Nuwara Eliya, and the awe-inspiring Dambulla Temple.
One of the highlights of the group is the presence of Alicia Yudos, a prominent social media influencer, who will share her experiences and captivating moments throughout the journey, further promoting the beauty of Sri Lanka to a wider audience. Additionally, the group is honoured to include Wenny Lo, a leader of the leading Buddhist Association in Indonesia, known as Wandani, whose participation signifies the strong bond between the Indonesian Buddhist community and Sri Lanka.
It is noteworthy that the cost for this familiarization tour has been solely borne by the travellers themselves, reflecting their genuine interest in exploring the wonders of Sri Lanka and promoting meaningful cultural exchanges between the two nations.
Under the guidance of Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia and ASEAN Admiral Professor Jayanath Colombage, Second Secretary (Commercial) Heshani Premathilaka and the team at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Jakarta, SriLankan Airlines Manager Indonesia Amila Wijesekara and the SriLankan Airlines team, Manager Jetwing Travels Chathura Fernando and the Jetwing team, SLTPB Chairman H. Chalaka, D. Gajabahu and SLTPB Assistant Director Marketing Chami Lanka Gasnawage supported in making this journey possible.
As the group sets out on this exciting adventure, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Jakarta looks forward to welcoming more Indonesian Buddhists to experience the warmth and hospitality of Sri Lanka in the near future.